Mercerizing machine



June 9, 1925. 1,541,365

D. M. MCLINTOCK MERCERIZING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 a I A;

June 9, 1925. 1,541,365

' D. M. MCLINTOCK MERCERIZING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20. 1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1925. D. M. M LINTOCK MERCERIZING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20.

1922 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jkrewf m. MC '4 p.

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June 9, 1925.

D. M. M LINTOCK MERCERIZING MACHINE Filed oct. 20.19232 8 Sheets -Sheet 4 June 9, 1925. 1,541,365

- D. M. MOLINTQCK MERCERIZING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20,1922 8 Sheets-Sheet s June 9, 1925. v

D. M. MCLINTOCK MERCERIZING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1922 8 Sheets-Shee 7 Fig.8.

June 9, 1925. 1,541,365

D. M. MCLINTOCK MERCERI Z ING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1922 8 Sheets$heet 8 Ig: i y

Patented June 9, 1925.

iii-urea stares ATENT orrica.

DUNCAN M. MGLINTOCK, O1" PEISLEY, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR T CLARK AND COMPANY LIMITED, OF PAISLEY, SCOTLAND.

IdERGERIZING- MACHI INE.

Application filed Gctooer 20, 1922. Serial No.- 595,843.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN Menzies Mo Lnv'roon, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at Anchor Thread Mills, Paisley, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Mercerizing Machines, of which the following 18 a specification.

This invention relates to hanlr mercerizing machines, that is machines in which hanks of yarn are immersed while under a state of tension in a solution of caustic soda or other inercerizing solution and then washed first in hot and finally in cold water.

Generally speaking, such machines are divided'into two broad classes, namely, those in which the travel of the yarn through'the caustic (hereinafter used to define any solution capable of mercerizing) is in a vertical direction (hereinafter referred to as vertical machines) and those in whichthedirection of travel is horizontal. as hitherto constructed the machine is automatic in its operation, but so far as I am aware the vertical machines hitherto known all require to be controlled by hand and it is one ofthe principal objects of this invention to provide a vertical machine in which the necessit for hand control is completely obviated. j

A further object of the invention is to leduce the nun'rber of power transmission belts which are usually found in such Vor t'cal machines and. thus eliminate the troubles incidental to their use, particularly under the atmospheric conditions in which such machines are requiredwto operate.

it further object of the invention is to provide a machine which will be of strong construction and well able to withstand the loads to which it is liable to be subjected. Y Still further objects of the invention will be apparent from the description given here-.

after. 1 v V T he accompanying drawings illustrate one convenient form of apparatus in accordance with the invention. 1 Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2 is an end elevation; v Figure 3 is a further elevation with parts removed i In some of the latter Figure 4 is an end elevation of Figure 3;

I igure 5 is a View showing thedriving mechanism for the rollers;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional elevation on. a somewhat larger scale;

h igures 7 and 8 are two views illustrating detail;

Figure 9 is a view of a further detail, and

Figures 10 and 11 are two views of a sprayer.

In carrying my invention into effect in one convenient manner, 1 form my improved machine with a framework which conveniently takes the form of two end frames connected by nieans of two longitudinal beams a, a, and one or more angle stays Z2, each end frame comprising one pillar or supportc of girder construction and a sec ond pillar or supportd which is circular in cross-section, such supports or pillars being connected by an upper bearing beam 6, which is preferably composed of two mild steel channels but which may be of any ther suitable construction. The upper longitudinal beam a connecting the end frames is'for'ined from two mild steel channels, as l -1 shown in Figure 2, and a lower flanged plate a? thus forming a trough within which the worm wheels 7' and worms f (Figure 5) or other gearing for rotating the upper rollers may be located, so that sue '1 gearing may be adequately lubricated by employing the trough-shaped beam or a subsidiary trough arranged therein as an oil bath. This upper longitudinal beam also carries the bearings g 'forthe upper set of rollers 9 round which the yarn passes (as shown by the chain dotted lines) and will for convenience be hereinafter referred to as the upper roller beam.

One end of the upper roller beam is extended beyond one end frame (as shown in Figure, 1) and on this extension is mounted an electric motor 71, for driving the machine together with a counter-shaft, clutch for the stretching motion, clutches for the roller turning motion and a. gear for timing the various operations of the machine as hereinafter referred to.

The electric motor drives the countershaft h by means of suitable spur or other gearing, 2', a (Figure 1) and the countershaft by means of a further train of gearing drives the timing motion mechanism which in the form illustrated comprises a number of wheels 7c, It, 76 763, is, 7c and mounted on a shaft Z which may for convenience be termed the timing shaft, the number of wheels corresponding to the number of operations that are to be controlled. On each of such timing wheels I mount a tappet or the like (such as m in Figure 3) which is readily adjustable on the periphery of its wheel for the purpose of varying the timing for that particular operation, the tappets co-operating with levers or other devices whereby motion may be communicated to the particula' part of which the timing depends upon the particular wheeler any such motion may be arrested as may be required. a

The motor is started by means of a starting handle n (Figure which, through lever and connecting rod mechanism,throws in the motor switch by which the circuit is completed, the switch being held in such closed positionby means of a suitable stop 0, which stop is automatically moved when the tappet wheels have completed one revolution so that one cycle of the machine has been completed, such removal of the stop be ing effected by a tappet p on one of the tappet wheels, so that a control spring 9 in connection with the starting mechanism will operate to throw out the switch.

Furthermore, one of the rods or bars (such as r) in connection with this mechanism is slotted oris provided with a certain amount of lost motion, so that the switchmay be thrown out by hand at any suitable stage ofoperation of the machine. In addition to driving the timing and roller-rotating mechanisms the motor h is also connected through the medium of suitable spur or other gearing to a shaft a run ning longitudinally of the machine above the upper roller beam (4 and having at each end a crank t which by means of a connect ing rod u is connected to one end of a lever e conveniently formed of steel channels, or otherwise, such levers being carried upon fulcrum brackets which in turn are supported by thedouble channel longitudinal beam (4 which runs from one end to the other of the machine and which is conveniently, though not necessarily, disposed below the floor level, the fulcrum brackets being preferably formed with suitably shaped heads which engage the under sides of the channels composing the longitudinal beam (as clearly seen in Figure 2) whereby additional security will be given under the loads to which such fulcrum, brackets may be subjected. The levers 1; connected to the crank mechanism. are at their other ends connected with stretching links or bars clutch is disconnected by means which are in turn connected to what may be termed the stretching beam which is a beam .2 running longitudinally of the machine and carrying the lower set of rollers 9 so that downward movement of the stretching beam under the action of the crank and connecting rod mechanism will increase the distance between the two sets of rollers g, g and thus apply considerable tension to the hanks of yarn which are passed round the several sets of rollers. In this connection it may be noted that the use of the levers o operated by. the crankmechanism provides for a considerable mechanical advantage being obtained, since such levers may be divided by their fulcra into unequal lengths, so that the crank is connect ed to the longer part of the lever while the stretching links are connected to the ends of the shorter arms.

The lower rollers 9 may be supported direct upon the stretching beam but it is preferred to carry the same upon a subsidiary beam 1 which is secured to the under side of the stretching beam and which is shorter than the tank 2 containing the caustic solution, so that the yarn may be completely immersed, While at the sametime the subsidiary beam has the further advantage of strengthening and reinforcing the stretching beam at that part where it is sul jected to the greatest bending moments.

The gearing for the crank motion is associated with a suitable clutch 3 on the counter-shaft h and bymeans of tappets fixed at appropriate intervals on one of the tappet wheels'the clutch is put into operation and when in running position a-stop engagesa part of the clutch mechanism for the purpose of maintaining it in operation. The clutch is-keyed on a sleeve through a bearing, carries on its opposite end a spur pinion gearing with the first'of a train of gearing terminatin in the crank wheels, one at either end or the machine and on one ofthe crank pins is keyed a disc l (Figure 2) which .is concentric with the crank shaft and which is furnished with a circumferential slot 5 in which an adjustable tappet pin 6 is located.

When the crank shaft has rotated through the necessary angle for the requirement of the process, the tappet pin 6 contacts with a lever 7 or other member forming or connected with the stop serving to maintain the clutch in operation, whereupon the of a spring 8 provided for the purpose.

At each end of the stretching beam there is a fixed bush within which is a rotatable adjusting nut adapt-ed to cooperate with a stretchadjusting screw 9 and formed with a collar 10 at its upper end bearing on a bearing plate 11 fixed to the upper flanges of the stretching beam and on the lower which, passing llt) ends'of the adjusting nuts are worm wheels 12 adapted to mesh with worms 13. The worm wheel shafts carry spur wheels let meshing with spur pinions 15 on a hand wheel shaft 16 so that by means of the latter the adjusting nuts may be rotated simultaneously and thus moved up or down on the adjusting screws in order to adjust the initial or final position of the stretching beam and thus adapt the machine for hanks of various lengths or varying the amount of stretch that is to be imparted to the hank.

Beneath 'he lower set of rollers 9 is a mercerizing tank 2 adapted to contain the caustic soda solution and which is adapted to be moved relatively to the hank carrying rollers for the purpose of immersing the ranks after the yarn has been put under tension. I prefer that this adjustment of the tank shall be effected simultaneously with the imparting of the stretch to the yarn and by means operated from the stretching means and for this purpose the mercerizing tank is attached to the stretch ing beams by means of chains 17 and pulleys 18 and 19 so that the lowering and raising of the stretching beam simultaneously effects the raising or lo vering or the tank. Four of such chains may be conveniently employed and one end of each of such chains may be connected to suitable ad-' justing bolt 20 or other means by which the initial position of the tank relatively to the stretching beam may be varied at will. Earh chain passes overa lower guide pulley 18 on the end of a cross-head 2i fixed on the lower end of the stretch adjusting screw 9, then upwards over the upper guide'pulley 19 on the upper roller beam (4 and then downwards to the the stretching beam descendsunder the action of the crank motion the lower pulleys 18 move with it and thus pull the chains over the upper guide pulleys in order to raise the tank simultaneously with the lowering oi the lower set of rollers;

When the stretch adjusting nuts above rel errcd to are turned by means of the hand gear for, say, lowering the stretching beam 2 the latter approaches the lower guide pulleys l8 and so slackens the chains which therefore allow the tank to drop by a distance equal to the adjustment which has memorizing-tank 2; so that as I fiX- separate drain valves for controllinpy the outlets 21f and 21" for the caustic and water respectively. The drain valves are worked automatically from appropriate tappet wheels provided for the purpose, being raised from their seats by bell crank levers 22 (Figure 5), the vertical arm of each lever carrying a roller 23 which bears against the vertical end of a T or L shaped bar 24, which has a horizontal movement imparte to it for the purpose of opening or closing the valve. As the mercerizing tank rises and falls the bell crank levers connected to the valves maintain their proper relative positions to the tanks by reason or" the fact that they are slidable relatively to the T or L-shaped bars which are referred to above and which are hin ed at one end b means horizontally by a tappet 28 on the appropriate tappet wheel. W Vhen the bar is thus moved over to lift the valve a bell crank latch 29 drops in behind a snug on the link supporting the bar from the upper roller beam and thus prevents the valve from dropping. back on to its seat while another tappet 30 on the tappet wheel contacts at the proper time with another arm 31 of the bell crank latch, thus releasing the snug so that the valve may drop back on to its seat. I y

The caustic solution whirhdrains away fromthe tank into the well or receptacle on the opening of the caustic drain valve is pumped back again at the proper time into the caustic tank by means of a pump 32, the deliverypipe of which telcscopiwlly arranged in relation to a filling pipe on the tank in order to permit of the rising and falling movement of the latter or other flexible or suitable connection may be provided for this purpose; 'lne pump is started and stopped at the proper time by means of two appropriately disposed tappets 35 on one of the tappet wheels, which act upon a belt. striker 36, so that the belt 257 drivingthe pump by suitable gearing, which also derives its power from the elei'tric motor, is moved on to a loose pulley when the pump is to be stopped and on to a fast, pulley when the pump is to be put into operation.

It is prefe-rableto provide squeezing rollers in conjunction with the hank carrying rollers and for this purpose I provide in association with the lower rollers squeezing rollers 38 (Figure l) which may be formed of rubber, fibre or other suitable material and which are preferably disposed between the lower rollers so that one squeezing roller will cooperate with two of such lower rollers. F or the purpose of carrying the squeezing rollers I provide brackets which are fixed internally on each side of the caustic tank and which sup-port rods carryingv springs, such rods and springs carrying crasd les 39 formed with bearings to carry the squeezing rollers, so that the cradles form a flexible and self adjusting support for the squeezing rollers. Moreover being supported by the tank it will be obvious that the squeezing rollers are brought into operation automatically when the tank is raised and when the stretching and i1nmers ing rollers carrying the hanks are arranged on both sides of the machine it will obvious that each cradle may carry two squeezing rollers (one at each end) for the purpose of co-operating with the sets of rollers on both sides of the machine.

F or the washing of the yarn after immersion and while still in a state of tension I provide spraying devices each of which conveniently consists of a pipe 40 (Figures 10 and 11) having a relatively small number of relatively large openings in each side thereof and surmounted by a V-shaped or like plate 41 so that the openings in the pipes deliver the water against the sides of the V-shaped shield or deflector, thus forming two films of Water which are directed by a downward inclination against the sides of the hanks, so giving a more efficient washing of the latter than is possible with the usual form of spray pipes in which there is a pipe only having on each side thereof a relatively large number of relatively small apertures, although it will he understood that such ordinary washing devices may be employed if desired.

Furthermore, the special spraying device above described may obviously be employed with equal effect and like advantageinconnection with all types of mercerizing niachines and they may be disposed both inside and outside of the hanks for the purpose of washing both sides simultaneously, or they may be employed on the interior or on the exterior only.

The hot and cold water supplied to the spraying devices is controlled by means of valves which are operated by levers 42 (Figure 3), links 43 and bell crank latches 44 or other devices actuated by tappet-s on tappet wheels provided for the. purpose, one

tappet being provided for each valve for the purpose of opening the same and actuating the latch to hold it oipenand a second tappet for releasing the latch or stop for the purpose of permitting the valve to close.

The shaft f carrying the worms f for actuating the rotating mechanism for the upper rollers is extended along the inside of the upper roller beam a and is driven by means of suitable bevel or other gearing 45 in combination with clutch mechanism 46 for the purpose of starting and reversing the motion. The clutches themselves are actuated by longer and shorter tappets arranged on one of the tappet. wheels in conibination with the bell crank levers and latches or stops.

The saw-tooth or other clutch for reversing the drive is fitted to and actuated by a fork fixed to a horizontally sliding clutch bar 47 parallel with which is a second bar 48 slidable horizontally and threaded through a lug 51 on the clutch bar. This second slidable bar is operated from the tappets by means of one arm of each of two. bell crank levers 49, 50:, disposed at the ends of the bar, the other arms of which engage between collars 52, 5.3 on the bar and between such collars and the lug 51 on the clutch bar suitable springs 54 are disposed. The clutch bar is retained in its mid po sition by latches hinged on the upper roller beam and the arrangement is such that when a longer tappet contacts with the horizontal arm of a bell crank leverthe ver tical arm shifts the slidable rod and compresses. the spring at the remote endof the slidable bar, the movement of the bell crank lever continuing until a pin releases the latch from the snug and the clutch bar is then suddenly pusned home by'ineans of the compressed spring, sothat the clutch is thus brought into operation at the correct moment and in the correct direction accord; ing to the direction of motion required.

At the same time the other latch is, released by reason of its bearingagainst a bell crank lever and a latch is. droppedinto ,position behind one of the snugs above referred to in order to hold the clutch in gear.

The same movement of the sliding rod also causes the other bell crank lever to move, so that its horizontal arm moves downwards and is thus in position for a shorter tappet to come into operation and thus bring the clutch back into its mid position at the appropriate moment.

As above explained, theupper rollers and gearing therefor are etliciently lubricated and the lower rollers are, as usual, lubricated by means of the caustic. As it is desirable that the caustic shall be prevented from coming into contact with the yarn after the washing operation, the front ends of the lower rollers are recessed and the shaft of each roller stops short of'the end of the recess so that an inner recess is-formed thereby. A disc or retaining collar is fixed on the endof the shaft and is housed in the inner recess while a blank flange is fixed into the outer recesses and suitable packing between the two prevents the leakage of caustic from the front ends of the rollers. Further, the inner flanges of the rollersare bevelled or brought to asharp edge at the back or outside for the purpose ofcarrying the drip of the rollers clear of the yarn.,,

in like manner the upper rollers are also provided with a flange or rim having a sharp edge so as to carry the drip from the lubricant clear of the yarn. 7

As it is desirable to prevent splash from the sprays during the washing operation, I provide vertically sliding shutters arranged in front of the spray pipes on each side of the machine and end spray shields 56 are also provided for the purpose of preventing splash in an endwise direction.

The end spray shields are formed with or have secured thereto channels or guideways in which the sliding shutters 55 are adapted to slide and to each end of each of said shutters there is connected a chain 57 which passes over pulleys 58 fixed on the top of the end spray shields and then downwards to be connected to the mercerizing tank. At thesame time, the end shields are fixed to the stretching beam and therefore move up and down with it. upwards the chains allow the shutters to drop by a distance equal to the movement of the tank and since at the same time the stretching beam and end shields aremoving downwards, the pulleys over which the chains supporting the sliding shutter pass are also moving downwards so that it will be apparent that the movement of the shutters will be equal to the movement of the tank plus twice the distance through which the end shields move, this total vertical movement being sufficient to bring the ,shutters downwards opposite the spray pipes when the washing is proceeding andupwards clear of the upper rollers when the stretchingbeam rises at the end of the operation So that there is thus no impediment to the removal of the yarn from the rollers.

will, of course, be understood that by reason of the construction and arrangement adopted the cycle of operations of the machine is exactly similar to the cycle performed by other mercerizing' machines of known construction, but the whole of said cycle of operations is effected and controlled automatically, and while I have described in some detail one convenient form of machine accordance with the invention, it will be understood that the automatic operation and the means by which this is effected form the essential features of the invention and the details of construction hereinbefore given are therefore by way ofillustration only and not of limitation since it will be obvious that I may modify the various mechanical details and forms of power transmission adopted, as also the number and arrangement of the tch ng e ers the adopted When the tank moves for immersing the yarn in the caustic solution as maybe found necessary or desirable to meet any partlcular PTZLCtlCZtl requirements that may have to be fulfilled.

passed vertically over each pair of said roll" ers, a beam carrying said second set of roll.- ers, mechanically operated connecting rod mechanism for moving the beam vertically in relation to said frame member, and a mercerizing tank suspended from and auto-- 'matically movable with said beam.

2. A hank mercerizing machine comprising in combination a frame member, a plurality of rollers carried thereby, a second set of rollers spaced in vertical relation to the first mentioned rollers so that a hank may be passed vertically over each pair of said roll :s, a beam carrying said second set of rollers, crank operated connecting rod mechanism for moving the beam vertically in relation to said frame member, and a mercerizing tank suspended from and automatically movable with said beam.

3. A hank mercerizing 'machinecompris ing in combination a frame member, a plurality of rollers carried thereby, a second set of rollers spaced in vertical relation to the first mentioned rollers so that a hank may be passed vertically over each pair of said rollers, a beam carrying said second set of rollers, links connected to each end of said beam, a double-ended lever connected at one end to each'of said links, a connecting rod connected to the other end of eachof said levers, a crank operating each of said connecting rods, and a mercerizing tank suspended from and automatically movable with said beam. V

4:. A hank mercerizing machine comprising in combination a frame member, a plurality of rollers carried thereby, a second set of rollers spaced in vertical relationship to the first mentioned rollers, so that a hank may be passed vertically over each pair of said rollers, a beam carrying said second set of rollers mechanically operated connecting rod mechanism for moving the beam vertically in relation to said frame member, means for adjusting the amount of said vertioal relative movement, and a mercerizing I tank suspended from and automatically movable with said beam.

5. A hank mercerizing machine comprising in combination a trough-shaped frame member, a plurality of rollers carried thereby, gearing enclosed in said trough-shaped frame member for driving said rollers, a

second set of rollers spaced in vertical relation to the first mentioned rollers so that a hank may be passed vertically over each pair of said rollers, a beam carrying said second set of rollers, mechanically operated connecting rod mechanism for moving the beam vertically in relation to said frame member and a mercerizing tank suspended from and automatically movable with said beam.

6. A hank mercerizing machine comprising in combination a frame membena plurality of rollers carried thereby, a second set of rollers spaced in vertical relationship to the first mentioned rollers so that a hank may be passecllvertic'ally over each pair of said rollers, a beam carrying said second set of rollers, means for moving said beam vertically in relation to said frame member and a merceri'zing tank suspended from said beam.

7. A bank mesmerizing machine comprisin combination a frame member, a plu ra'lity of rollers carried thereby, a second set of rollers spac'ed in vertical relationship to the first mentioned rollers so that a hank may be passed vertically over each pair of "said rollers, a beam carrying said second set of rollers, means for moving said beam verti'cally in relation to said framemember and a merceriziiig tank suspended from said beam in such a manner that the tank moves in opposition 'to said beam.

8. A haiik mercerizi'ng machine comprismgin combination a frame member, a plur-ality 'o'f 'ro'llers 'carrie'd thereby, a second set at rollers spaced in vertical relation to the "first mentioned rollers so that a hank may be passed vertically over each pair of said rollers, abeam carrying said second set of rollers, mechanically operated connecting rod mechanism for moving the beam vertically in relation to said frame member, a mercerizing tank siispende'd from and automatically movable ithsaid beam, a single prime mover for driving all the moving .parts of the machine, and adjustable cam Wheels and tappets for automatically timing the operation of said moving parts.

9. A hank mercerizing machine comprising in combination a frame member, a plurality of rollers carried thereby, a second set of rollers spaced in vertical relationship to the first mentioned rollers and carried by a movable beam, a mercerizing tank suspended from or movable with said beam, means for spraying the hanks after immersion in said mercerizingt-ank, and sprayconfining shields connected to and movable with said tank.

10. A hank mercerizing machine according to claim 9 having end spray-confining shields fixed to and movable with the movable beam.

' 11. A hank mercerizing machine comprising in combination a frame member, a plurality of rollers carried thereby, 'a second set of rollers spaced in vertical relationship to the first mentioned rollers so that 'a hank may be passed vertically over each pair of said rollers, a vertically movable beam carrying said second set of rollers, a mercerizing tank suspended from said beam, a single motor for rotating said rollers stretching'the hanks and immersing the same in the merce'rizi'ng tank and meansfor automatically controlling and timing the operations of the machine. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

D. M. McLINTOOK. 

